Lifting device



C.IE. CRUIKSHANK ET AL 2,853,336

LIFTING DEVICE Sept. 23, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1955 62/4005 45 CPU/KS/IA/VA c. E. CRUIKSHANK ETAL Sept. 23, 1958 LIFTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1955 2 Shgets-Sheet 2 cm 005 .5 akM sw/VA United States Patent LlFTING DEVICE Claude E. Cruikshank, Gary, and Robert L. Nelson, Ogden Dunes, Ind, assignors to Cruikshank Auto Service Company, Gary, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application November 10, B55, Serial No. 546,128

4 Claims. (Cl. 294-115) This invention relates in general to a lifting device, and more particularly to a device for hoisting and handling cylindrical articles stacked on end and in abutting relationship, although other uses and purposes may be apparent to one skilled in the art.

Specifically, cylindrical articles, such as paper rolls, barrels and the like stacked on end in abutting relationship define diametrically opposed and substantially triangularly shaped gaps around a surrounded cylindrical article. The small gap between the rolls or cylindrical members make it difficult for any heretofore developed lifting device to properly function in removing the articles, especially from the hold of a ship and the like.

The present invention deals with a lifting device having a pair of coacting tongs which are pivotally connected and operated by a wedge-shaped actuator. The jaws of the device are small enough so that they may readily be fitted between the gaps afiorded at diametrically opposed sides of a surrounded cylindrical member such as a paper roll. Rollers are provided for engagement with the wedge-shaped actuator to give a free action in operation of the jaws. To hold the jaws in an open position,

a locking bar is provided which connects between actuat-v ing arms above the pivot point of the jaws.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a lifting device which may be employed to hoist and handle cylindrical articles.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a lifting device for hoisting and handling cylindrical members that are stacked on end and in closely abutting relationship in the hold of a ship and the like, wherein only small gaps are provided at diametrically opposed points on the cylindrical articles.

Still a further object of this invention resides in the provision of a lifting device for hoisting and handling cylindrical articles stacked on end that is provided with a pair of coacting gripping pads for gripping the articles therebetween wherein the gripping pads are capable of being inserted in small gaps on opposite sides of an article to be lifted.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a lifting device including a pair of pivotally connected coacting jaw members that are actuated by a wedgeshaped member, wherein additional means are provided to give an extremely free action between the wedge-shaped member and the jaws.

A further feature of this invention is in the provision of a lifting device including a pair of pivotally connected coacting jaws having actuating arms which engage a Wedge-shaped member, and wherein means are provided to prevent the wedge-shaped member from being pulled through the space between the arms.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a lifting device including a pair of pivotally connected coacting jaw members, and means for selectively locking the jaws in open position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a lifting device for use in hoisting and handling cylindrical articles which may be economically constructed by a minimum of parts, and is highly efficient and easy operating.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosures, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a lifting device according to the invention, wherein the jaws are in open position and associated with a cylindrical member;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but illustrating the parts of the invention positioned wherein the jaws are in closed position around a cylindrical article;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the invention in association with a cylindrical article, showing the parts in working position;

Figure 4 is a top plan view, illustrating the manner in which the present invention may be employed to hoist and handle a cylindrical article completely surrounded by other cylindrical articles, wherein only small gaps are permitted for working room; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view, with parts broken away to show underlying parts, of a detailed portion of the invention illustrating the coaction of the wedgeshaped member with an actuating arm.

Asshown on the drawings:

Referring generally to Figures 1 and 2, a lifting device is illustrated as constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention, for lifting the cylindrical article designated at A, which comprises in general a pair of substantially identically formed members or tongs 10 and i1, and a wedge-shaped actuator 12 for operating the tongs.

Each tong is provided with an intermediate body portion 10a and 11a from which bars 10b and 11b extend inwardly and are pivotally connected at their free ends by a pin 13. In the instant case, the bar 11b is preferably bifurcated at its free end to receive the bar 10b. Thus, the tongs 10 and 11 are pivotally connected by the pin 13.

Extending downwardly from the outer ends of the tong body portions 10a and 11a are the vertical jaw portions and which coact to define the gripping end of the lifting device. Oppositely facing gripping pads 14 and 15 are pivotally carried at the lower ends of the jaw portions 10c and 11c, respectively. As seen most clearly in Figures 1 to 4, each gripping pad includes respectively an arcuately formed plate 14a and 15a suitably attached to a U-shaped bracket 14b and 15b on the convex side of each plate. A nut and bolt assembly extends through the legs of each U-shaped member and through a suitable aperture formed in the respective jaws to define a pivoted pin for the gripping pad as indicated at 16 and 17, respectively. Thus, the gripping pads 14 and 15 are free to pivot, within limits, when engaging diametrically opposite sides of a cylindrical member to assure full face engagement of the gripping pads with the article as shown in Figure 2. This also permits various size articles, within limits, to be effectively handled by this hoisting device.

To prevent the sharp edges of the tong body portion 19a and 11a from engaging the cylindrical article to be handled such as indicated at A, and to properly align the lifting device with respect to the article A, a pair of curvature plates 18, 18 are suitably secured to the lower edge of the tong body portions 10a and 11a and spaced inwardly from the respective jaw portions 100 and 110. The plates 18, 18 contact the article to be handled as shown in Fig. 1.

To control the movement of the jaw portions 100 and 110, an actuating arm portion extends upwardly from each tong body portion a and 11a, as indicated at 10d and 11d. The actuating arm portions are disposed slightly at an incline toward each other and define therebetween at the area near their upper ends a substantially cone shaped space. The actuating arms have a broad intermediate portion and terminate in a rounded end. The ends are built-up to increase the thickness of the arm and provide a transversely extending shoulder stop or abutment stop Ne and 11a on each side of the arm, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

For opening and closing the jaws 10c and 110 of the lifting device, the wedge-shaped member 12 is disposed in the conical shaped space defined by the opposing actuating arms 10d and 11d to engage said arms. A pair of guideways or tracks 19, 19 are carried on the opposite upper edges of the wedge-shaped actuator 12 which define a channel for receiving the inner marginal end edge portions of the arms 10d and 11d. Actually, the bottom of the guideway channels are defined by the lateral edges of the wedge-shaped actuator 12, while the sides of the channel are defined by a pair of outwardly extending plates connected to the opposite sides of the wedgeshaped member and along the edge thereof. A pair of wrap-around guide members 20, 20 are carried by the actuator 12, one being connected to the lower end of each guideway 19. The members 20 further serve to coact with the respective stops 10s and lie to prevent the actuator 12 from pulling through the space between the arms 10d and 11d at such a time when nothing is positioned between the jaws of the lifting device.

The wedge-shaped actuator 12 is provided with a plurality of openings to lighten the weight thereof and a hoisting loop or eyelet 22 connected at the upper end thereof. The loop 22 may be easily attached to a hook member or the like such as indicated by the numeral 23 of a crane or other hoisting apparatus.

To permit ease of movement between the actuator 12 and the actuating arms 10d and 11d, the outer ends of the actuating arms 10d and 11d are slotted at 24 to receive a rotatably mounted roller 25, as seen most clearly in Figure 5. The roller 25 rides against the opposite upper edges 12a and 12b of the Wedge-shaped actuator 12. Thus, no scraping movement is permitted between the actuating arms 'and the wedge-shaped actuator. When the wedge-shaped actuator 12 is in a raised position relative to the arms of the lifting tongs, as seen in Figure 2, subsequent downward movement thereof would generally cause the outer portion of the wrap-around guides 20 to engage the outer edges of the actuating arms. However, to prevent such scraping between these members, a rotatable roller 26 is carried between the sides of the wrap-around guide to engage the outer edges of the actuating arms 10d and 1210!, as seen most clearly in Figure 5.

To hold the jaws of the tongs in open position when not in use or prior to positioning of the gripping pads around a cylindrical article, a locking bar 27 is provided which is pivotally connected at one end to the actuating arm 11d as indicated at 28 and is provided with a longitudinal slot 29 adjacent the other end which slidably engages a pin 30 extending from the actuating arm 10a. A transverse locking slot 31 is provided at the end of the slot 29 nearest the pivot point 28 and extends away from the upper edge of the slot 29. The very end of the arm 27 opposite the pivot end is provided with a handle 32 for controlling the operation of the locking bar. To lock the tongs in open position the pin 30 is seated in the slot 31 as shown in Figure 1.

As seen in Figure 3, the body portions, the jaw portions, and the actuating arm portions of each tong 10 and 11 are integrally formed as a single piece from a fiat piece of steel. Even the pivotally connected bars 10b and 11b are integrally connected with the tongs, with allowances 4 for the bar 11b to present a bifurcated end section for the bar 10b.

In operation, the lifting device is lowered to position the jaws on diametrically opposite sides of a cylindrical article such as the article A as shown in Figure 1, the plates 18 aligning the device with respect to the article. The tongs are held in open position by the locking bar 27, and by raising the handle portion 32 of the locking bar 27 to unseat the pin 30 from the groove 31, the pin is then permitted to slide along the longitudinal slot 29 and allow the tongs to pivot into closed position by raising of the wedge-shaped actuator 12 until a cylindrical article is tightly gripped between the gripping pads 14 and 15 as shown in Figure 2. Ease of movement between the wedge-shaped actuator 12 and the actuating arms 19d and 11d is made possible by the roller 25 carried by the ends of the actuating arms.

Attention is called to the fact that the lifting device upon being placed upon a cylindrical object, such as a paper roll, must be manually released by the trip lever, therebypreventing accidentally hoisting said roll until fully secured by said lifting device.

When the article A has been moved to a desirable position, lowering of the wedge-shaped actuator 12 causes the rollers 26 carried by the wrap-around guides 20 to engage the outer edges of the actuating arms 10d and 11d and force the arms inwardly thereby causing the jaws to swing outwardly around the pivot 13 and disengage from the cylindrical article A. As the actuating arms are forced inwardly, the pin 30 will slide along the locking bar slot 29 until reaching the transverse slot 31. Then the weight of the locking bar will cause it to pivot around pivot point 28 and automatically lock the tongs of the lifting device in open position. Thus, upon depositing the load fully upon a floor or place of movement, the jaws automatically open, and lock in the open and released position, thereby permitting the craneman to remove the lifting device automatically without any human aid, and the jaws remain in open position to accept another cylindrical object.

The force applied by the lifting device is totally lateral pressure upon said roll before it can be lifted vertically. The amount of lateral pressure applied to a cylindrical object, such as a paper roll, is directly proportional to its weight. Change in direction from horizontal to vertical in the movement of roll-has no effect upon the grip, such as the Ice Tong Type now in use, making it impossible to lose the roll in the process of transferring it from one point to another.

From the foregoing, it is seen that an efiicient lifting device of simple construction and having a minimum of partsis provided which may be easily operated and employed for hoisting and handling cylindrical articles stacked on end, although the device may also be used for various shaped articles.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the instant invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A lifting device comprising, in combination: a pair of members pivotally connected to each other, each member having a gripping portion at one end and an actuating portion at the other end, said actuating portions having inner confronting edges with the distal ends thereof inclined toward each other; rollers carried at said distal ends and projecting radially therefrom; a substantially flat wedge-shaped actuator slidably disposed between said edges and engageable with said rollers; a guide carried by said wedge-shaped actuator, said guide having a pair of outwardly and oppositely opening channels each receiving one of said actuating portions of one of said pair of members; a stop carried at the lower end of each of said channels; and an abutment carried by each of said actuating portions in spaced relation to said rollers, said abutment coacting with said stop to prevent the actuator from at any time disengaging from said members.

2. A device for lifting an article comprising, in combination: a pair of tongs joined to each other by a pivotal connection, said tongs being adapted at one end for liftingly engaging the article; a pair of actuating arms rigidly joined to and extending above said tongs; means operative on said pair of arms to control the displacement of said tongs; and a pair of downwardly facing plates carried by said tongs intermediate said pivotal connection and said one end thereof for supporting and aligning said device on the article for the subsequent lifting engagement thereof.

3. A device for lifting a cylindrical roll of paper comprising, in combination: a pair of tongs joined to each other by a pivotal connection, said tongs having arcuate pivotable gripping pads at one end for liftingly engaging the roll without damage thereto; a pair of actuating arms rigidly joined to and extending above said tongs and having inner confronting edges, the distal ends of said edges being inclined toward each other; a substantially flat wedge actuator disposed intermediately said edges and engageable with the distal ends of said edges; and a pair of downwardly facing plates carried by said tongs intermediate said pivotal connection and said one end thereof for supporting said device on the roll to preclude damage thereto by the edges of said tongs, and for aligning said device with the paper roll for the subsequent lifting engagement thereof.

4. A lifting device comprising, in combination: a pair of members pivotally connected to each other, each member having a gripping portion at one end and an 6 actuating portion at the other end; said actuating portions having inner confronting edges and outwardly directed edges disposed generally parallel to each other, the distal ends of said portions being inclined toward each other; a first roller carried by each of said distal ends and projecting radially from said inner edge there of; a substantially fiat wedge-shaped actuator slidably disposed between said inner edges and engageable with said first rollers; a guide carried by said wedge-shaped actuator, said guide having a pair of outwardly and oppositely opening channels each receiving one of said actuating portions of one of said pair of members; a second roller carried by each of said stops and engageable with one of said outwardly directed edges for moving said actuating portions together; a stop carried at the lower end of each of said channels; and an abutment carried by each of said actuating portions in spaced relation to said rollers, said abutment coacting with said stop to prevent the actuator from at any time disengaging from said members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 760,582 Taylor May 24, 1904 1,213,574 Baash Ian. 23, 1917 1,466,916 Pearl Sept. 4, 1923 1,571,332 Hermingh-ausen Feb. 2, 1926 2,088,519 Hershey July 27, 1937 2,215,844 Van Syckle Sept. 24, 1940 2,259,376 Guild Oct. 14, 1941 2,337,177 Breslau Dec. 21, 1943 2,364,897 Grigsby Dec. 12, 1944 2,394,779 Hunter et a1. Feb. 12, 1946 

